sprig

Always get an argument from the younger crowd, but I think the 80 team with the players you mentioned as the core was the best Sioux team ever. Close second or even heat, the 82 team. Both were fantastic defensively.

Thanks

Someone got a link for buying this book. Know I've seen it online, but can't find the place.

"simply the best" "not one-dimensional like Nedved and Gomez" Good grief. Sounds like he'll be great to watch. Probably can't count on four years though, can we? (Edited by sprig at 2:59 pm on Jan. 3, 2002)

Got to get that book. I was there in the 70's and saw many games in the really old barn. Went to most home games during the dismal 5 win season under Bjorkman in the then new Englestad. Knew most of the players from Walsh Hall. In fact helped a college broadcasting major friend move equipment into the building just prior to its debut. Was in SD and got tickets for the FF at Grand Forks in 1983. Very disappointing that the Sioux were not picked for the NCAA tourney. Wisco and the Sioux were by far the best teams in the country (Sioux had won it all in 82) and Wisco, the Gophers, and a marginal Duluth team were picked. Wisco won in a cakewalk. Fun partying with the Wisco fans at Frenchy's, however.

Return email message from email to the web guy, Tom Dutcher, at GFH: Hopefully, within the next month you will see an improved site. It will have a different look and the issues you've addressed will be resolved. Some articles are in IceTime. You can link to this from any page on our site. As for the rest of the articles, they are on the site but sometimes get moved to Local or Features. This happens a couple times a week and we're working on getting this fixed. Thank you for your interest and have a happy New Year. Tom Dutcher for the Grand Forks Herald

So hang it and be proud. Just don't expect Sioux fans on a Sioux board to thump their chests for you. BTW, is the banner a bit lonely in those rafters? (Edited by sprig at 11:17 am on Jan. 1, 2002)

Adsubtract=recommended software. Ad, popup, and cookie buster supreme. Even makes that #### xl93 home page load quickly. http://www.adsubtract.com (Edited by sprig at 12:04 pm on Dec. 30, 2001)

The poorest winning percentage is what has us below those teams that may not be as good. That will change if we are better, but we have to get above .500 to move up. Need at least a split at Mn to avoid dropping off the list again.

Got to be impressed with how comfortable Siembeda looked in goal last night, how well he plays the angles, and by his quickness. Also he handled being run by MSU at every opportunity like it was no big deal. Never saw a reaction out of him. This goalie will be good. Got a great chance of going down as a Sioux great with Belfour, Casey, and Goehring (among others). (Edited by sprig at 7:55 am on Dec. 30, 2001)

Right again, although the stats are there. Do have an article on the Gophs win over PC though??? These guys must be in bed before 10 and sleep until noon. Great job, GFH

Siembeda looked very comfortable in net right from the start in period one vs. MSU. Some big saves on the PP, but the Sioux are forechecking the crap out of MSU, absolute domination. MSU has taken some cheap shot penalties that got the Sioux their fourth goal (Schneekloth) on the 5 on 3 PP. 21 first period shots, probably half of them great chances. They could easily have 6 by now. Miller barely stopped one that made it through him as it was trickling across the line. A Dman went into the butterfly in the crease and made another save on a sure Sioux goal on a rebound shot. I think we have a goalie. Lets see how he does if the Sioux come out in their soft defense. No sign of it in the first. They were burned a couple times but rarely got caught outnumbered. Strong backchecking by the forwards. That period looked much more like the Sioux of the past few years. Maybe there is hope yet for this season.

Defense was tight in period one, but as soon as the Sioux got the lead, it turned soft. Not a prevent, but they sure give opponents a load of room when they get the lead. Specialty teams were very bad; no setup on the PP, and a very unaggressive PK that gave Mich a ton of great chances.

The xl93 feed was nonexistent last night. Tech. must have had the day off. Prior to last night you'd get the station's music when a Sioux game wasn't being played. Last night the link was dead. Still getting the same message this morning: "system cannot find the file specified"

Impressed with the Sioux team defense when the game was tied or they trailed, but they really went soft with the lead. Played very tight to their man when tied or trailing, but gave a lot of room with the lead. Like they were scared of getting beat. Need to keep the team D solid the way they played in the first period. They were outplaying Michigan big time until they got the lead. Brandt made some big saves, especially on the Mich powerplay in both regualtion and OT, but let in softies 5 on 5. Got to get RW production from whomever plays with Skarperud and Bayda. They work their tails off on the forecheck and create great chances for they RW, who cannot find the back of the net. Same for Spiewak and Notermann, need some frosh wingers to step up soon. Team doesn't look quite ready to compete against the best yet. Special teams do not look good, rarely get set up on the PP and rarely out of our end on the PK. Good win nevertheless.

Unfortunately, in a close game, one whiff can make the difference. As it did in OT. Didn't see a Sioux whiff the entire game before that, just one goalie giveaway and one ill-advised dman's stick deflecting a shot from a terrible angle that Karl would have easily stopped. Haven't seen the Sioux on TV much this year. Glad to hear Scheeks has been solid. He certainly has the skills to play good defensive hockey, hope it remains that way. (Edited by sprig at 2:51 pm on Dec. 28, 2001)

I didn't see the left wing lock in neutral ice in the playoffs, but they certainly played the conventional center low in the defensive end, center high in the offensive end. Don't know if anyone noticed on Kolanos winning goal, the Sioux were lined up three across at the blue line, with Panzer in the middle (this after an excellent Sioux chance, a tip by Spiewak, just missed, with both Sioux wings on the forecheck). Kolanos basically got Schneekloth to lean inside, where there was absolutely no room to go, then beat him outside. A successful one on three, not too cool. The defensive positioning, however, was excellent, the Schneekloth whiff, very poor. I'd love to see them committ to playing this style. It will bring success to this young, talented team, much more quickly than an all out three man forecheck. And will also pay dividends in the future, even if it doesn't happen this year. (Edited by sprig at 12:03 pm on Dec. 28, 2001)

Don't know what will happen with this team, but the teams of the last two years played run and gun and gave up loads of oddman rushes throughout the season, but still usually won. During the postseason in those same years, however, they tightened up defensively, and rarely gave an odd man rush during the NCAA's. At the same time they maintained an aggressive two man forecheck, relying on third forward high defensive positioning. Good teams can get both right. This team has not learned how to play both ends. Hopefully the concentration on D will bring about big improvements by March. (Edited by sprig at 10:28 am on Dec. 28, 2001)

Dagies, Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe Skarp is centering Bayda, and Dean was looking for a right handed right wing to finish all (or at least some) of the chances Skarp and Bayda are creating. He dreamed a bit in wishing he could put Whitey on the right wing (wouldn't we all like to see that this year?). And, I'd agree, Michigan has not played all that well either, and since they're missing their best players, it would be another giant step backwards to lose this game. Finally, I get to see something from the extra I've paid directtv for Fox Sportsnet. Hope the Sioux make it worth my bucks. (Edited by sprig at 10:43 am on Dec. 28, 2001) (Edited by sprig at 10:44 am on Dec. 28, 2001)